Retainer for dental matrix



May 31, 1955 D. REITER 2,709,302

RETAINER FOR DENTAL MATRIX Filed July 2, 1954 United States Patent O 2,709,302 RETAINER FOR DENTAL MATRIX David Reiter, Woodside, N. Y. Application July 2, 1954, Serial No. 440,906 10 Claims. (Cl. 32--63) The present invention is directed to dental appliances, more particularly to a retainer for dental bands used in the filling of teeth.

` Various appliances for this purpose have been made and applicant has obtained a number of patents on the subject. For instance, Patent No. 2,572,198, dated October 23, 1951, describes and claims such a device which has been found practical in use. ln `my Patent No. 2,617,196, dated November l1, 1952, an improved form of the device is described and claimed which is substantially more convenient to use than that of the earlier patent. In my co-pending application Serial No. 355,257, filed May 15, 1953, now Patent No. 2,686,970, there is set forth a still further improvement in the device which has been found eminently satisfactory in practical use. It has the special advantage that the device enables the dental band to tit securely over the tooth without hampering the movements of the dentist or causing undue discomfort in the patient. However, still further improvement in the device is possible and the present invention seeks to further improve the same.

Accordingly it is among the objects of the present invention to provide a device of the character` described which conforms to the shape, size, position and irregularities of the tooth, without damage to the band or gum tissue.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a device which is adapted to swing in Vorder to clear the anterior teeth when a posterior tooth to be treated is tilted or malposed.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a locking arrangement which will hold the band in its final position firmly but will permit a quick release thereof without damage to tissues.

It is still further among the objects of the. present invention to provide a device which is capable of holding different widths of bands without distortion and without undue movement thereof during the operations.

In practicing the present invention there is provided a device quite similar to that shown in the aforesaid pending application but having certain improvements thereon. One of said improvements is the provision of an additional`oscillation movement of the swivel head which holdsthe band, thereby enabling the dentist to position the device at a convenient angle. There is also provided a loopfo'n the head through which the band is threaded, said loop having an opening of less width than the head soas to accommodate narrower bands. A further feature of the invention is the provision of a locking device which firmly holds the band in position during the filling of the tooth but which may be readily released after the filling is completed so that the band may be removed from the tooth without injury to the lling.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my new retainer for dental bands;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof along line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing the elements in a position where the band is inserted therein;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig'. 2, showing thevband in the locked position as it is when adjusted on a tooth;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the device; p

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged side View of the upper part of the device, and

Patented May 31, 1955 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view4 showing the positioning of the device on a tooth.

There is provided a base 1 in the form of an elongated plate or frame having a longitudinal slot 2 therein. At

the upper end thereof a bracket 3 is secured by rivet 4 i to enable the bracket to swivel about the rivet. Av carriage 5 is held with respect to base 1 by a bolt 6 threaded into the same, having a head 7. lThe lower threaded portion 3 of carriage 5 fits into threads 9 of thumb nut 10 held in opening 1-1 so that it is rotatable therein. An opening 12 in holder plate 13 is fitted onto bolt 7 to .fallow plate 13 to oscillate. Said plate has a slot 14 for the threading of a band therethrough. A stop 15 on plate 13 entering slot 2 prevents undue movement of the plate.

A loop 16 having a slot which is substantially narrower i than slot 14 is pivoted at 17 on swivel head 18 which in turn is riveted at 19 tobracket 3 soas to allow a limited oscillatory movement thereof. An extension 20 on head 18 enables loop 16 to be held thereon to latch it in position.

Grip plate 21 has a longitudinal slot 22 in alinement with slot 2. A catch 23 entering slot 22 is riveted at 24 to the lower portion of base 1. Said catch has an inclined face 25 adapted to be contacted by resilient end 26 of the grip plate, the extreme end 27 thereofconstituting 'a latch. A hand hold 28 is provided for manipulating end 26. i ln the operation of the device a section of dental band 29 is folded to form a loop which is threaded through head 18 and holder plate 13 with the ends 30 thereof in the position shown in Fig. 2. Then thumb nut 10 is rotated to the right, retracting plate 13 until latch 27 has ridden over catch 23 and is in locking position as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that ends 30 of the band have been doubled up on themselves and gripped between plates 13 and 21, thereby locking it in position. To remove the band after the filling is completed the operator pulls downwardly on hand hold 28, pulling latch 27 in the direction of arrow 33, pulling plate 21 downwardly, freeing the ends of the dental band. Thumb screw 10 is turned to the right sufficiently to raise the holder plate 13 to loosen the band and to release it from teeth 32 thereof. j

There are numerous advantages inherent in the present invention,. as for example, the universal movement of the head insures that there will be no pinching or injury to the gum tissue. v There is compensation for differences in the circumferences of the upper and lower part offa tooth and for other irregularities therein. Because of the various elements and the locking arrangements, there is no danger of the` band slipping during use. It is a simple matter to release` the retainer from the bandand slide the band out buccally or lingually, thus protecting the contact points of' the fillings from breaking since the band itself is not mutilated. Only ordinary dental bands are used and no special bands or wedges are necessary. There are no screw or clamp locks which are bulky and interfere with operations.

For anterior teeth the best results are obtained ',by placing a lubricated band around the tooth rst. The filling material is inserted and overpacked. Then vthe free ends are pressed together and held with the left hand and the retainer passed over them. Continuey to position the strip with a firm control of the left hand as the nut is turned and the retainer is locked. If the strip is brought underneath the free margin of gum no finishing will be necessary after the filling t is set. The oscillating plate renders automatic adaptation and gives enough tension tofcounteract contraction .and eX- pansion of any filling material, thus making the densest filling possible with the maximum seal and strength.

For best results, the retainer is mounted from the inside. When the lingual wall is broken down, then it 'is mounted buccally.

I claim:

l. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for confining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a catch and a cooperating latch on said base and grip plate, whereby the upward movement of said grip plate past said transverse slot locks said grip plate relative to said holder and prevents accidental displacement of said band.

2. ln a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plaie being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for contining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a catch and a cooperating latch' on said base and grip plate, said catch being mounted on said base and said latch being mounted 1:

on the lower end of said grip plate, whereby the up'- ward movement of said grip plate past said transverse slot locks said grip plate relative to said holder and prevent accidental displacement of said band.

3. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base,

a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot'therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for conning the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a catch and a cooperating latch on said base and grip plate, a longitudinal slot in said grip plate, the pivot of said holder plate entering said slot, whereby the upward movement of said grip plate past said transverse slot locks said grip plate relative to said holder and prevents accidental displacement of said band.

4. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, fr

a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for confining the closed end of a folded dental' band, the improvement which includes a catch and a cooperating latch on said base and grip plate, and a hand hold on said grip plate to facilitate manual operation of said grip plate, whereby the upward movement of said grip plate past said transverse slot locks said grip plate relative to said holder and prevents accidental'displacement of said band.

5. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for conning the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a loop attached to said head and having a transverse slot, said head having a transverse slot of different width from said r loop, and means for moving said loop into and out of alinement with the slot in said head, whereby dental bands-of different widths may be held in one or the other of said head and loop slots.

6. ln a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base,

a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, Said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for confining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a loop attached to said head and having a transverse slot, said head having a transverse slot of different width from said loop, and means for moving said loop into and out of alinement with the slot in said head, whereby dental bands of different Widths may be held in one or the other of said head and loop slots, said loop being pivoted onto said head at the lower face thereof.

7. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a'base, a 'carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said baseV for lon-"fitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for confining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a loop: attached to said head and having a transverse slot, said head having a transverse slot of different width from said loop, and means for moving said loop into and outv of alinement with the slot in said head, whereby dental bands of different widths may be held in one or the other of said head and loop slots, said loop being pivoted onto said head at the lower face thereof, the upper face of said head having an extension, said loop being adapted to tit over said extension.

8. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for confining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a loop attached to said head and having a transverse slot, said head having a transverse slot of diierent width from said loop, and means for moving said loop into and out of alinernent with the slot in said head, whereby dental bands of different Widths may be held in one or the other of said head and loop slots, said head being swiveled in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said holder plate.

9. In a retainer for dental matrix comprising a base, a carriage mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, a holder plate having a transverse slot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adslot therein for holding a dental band and pivoted on said carriage, a grip plate mounted on said base for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said grip plate being adjacent to said holder plate, and a head for contining the closed end of a folded dental band, the improvement which includes a bracket mounted on the upper end of said base for oscillation in a plane parallel to said holder plate, said head being mounted on the free end of'said bracket for oscillation in a plane at an angle to the plane of said holder plate.

No references cited. 

